BOARD OF TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1918, Page 7

BOARD OF TRADE.

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE TEADE DISPUTE, RESENTMENT BY CONCILIATION COMMISSIONER.

In the course of the hearing of the dispute in the Bakers' and Pastry-cooks', trade beforo the Conciliation Council yesterday, Mr E. May, one of the assessors for the employers, in advancing reasons against granting an advance in wages, pointed out that as the Board of Trade had declined to allow the Taranaki bakers to increase tho price of bread, they could not do what was done in other businesses—pass on any increases to the consumers. He said the masters had met the Minister of Agriculture and Industries at Hawera, but he had referred them to the Board of Trade. They had met the Board of Trade at Hawera, but had been refused permission to increase the price of bread, the board pointing out that as bakers in other districts were satisfied with the conditions imposed by the board they could not be relaxed in favor of the Taranaki bakers. In consequence of information received later, tho masters went to Wellington and had some difficulty in securing a further interview with the Board of Trade. Thsy eventually met the deputation, and promised, after consideration, to forward the reply in a few days. The reply, wben it did come, was another refusal of permission to increase the price of bread, and the members of the board at Hawera, when they gave the answer said they wished the masters to conwy to the Conciliation Council that the board would be no party to an increase in the wages paid to bakers and pastry-cooks at the present time.

The Commissioner (Mr T. Harle Giles) replied sharply that if the hoard had made such a statement as that made by Mr May, he considered it most improper, and resented it most strongly. The Board of Trade had no right to at' tempt to interfere with the functions of the coiincil. It was the first time that the Board of Trade had attempted to influence him in his position as Conciliation Commissioner in the consideraton of any dispute which might come before him. It was outside the province of the board, and indeed it was outside the province of everyone, including the Government, who had never in any way attempted to bring influence to bear upon the commissioner in that way. The purpose was to leave the council absolutely free and untramclled by any ""outside influence. The speaker said he would take steps to assure that it would be the last time an attempt should tie made from an outside body to influence the Conciliation Council or the Arbitration Court.